Chess960, otherwise known as Fischer Random, is a chess variant that has struggled to find its place. It was invented and advocated for by Bobby Fischer, who thought that chess was becoming too reliant on opening theory.

The basic concept is quite simple: All the pawns start on their normal squares, but the back rank pieces are rearranged at random before the game begins. There are a couple of stipulations, however, which separate it from an older variant called “Shuffle Chess.”

The bishops must be on opposite colors, and the rooks must be on opposite sides of the king to enable castling (which looks similar to castling in chess). The first Chess960 World Championship, held as part of the Mainz Chess Classic in 2001 between grandmasters Peter Leko and Michael Adams, was largely an unofficial event. From then on, there were Fischer Random Championships held in Mainz every year until the tournament ended in 2009.

Since the death of the Mainz Chess Classic, there have been very few who have promoted the variant, but in recent times it seems to be making a comeback. The Icelandic Chess Federation has hosted the European Fischer Random Cup at the Reykjavik Open for the past couple of years.

https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/chess-xl-expectations-2019-chess-9lx-champions-showdown

Chess960, otherwise known as Fischer Random, is a chess variant that has struggled to find its place. It was invented and advocated for by Bobby Fischer, who thought that chess was becoming too reliant on opening theory.

The basic concept is quite simple: All the pawns start on their normal squares, but the back rank pieces are rearranged at random before the game begins. There are a couple of stipulations, however, which separate it from an older variant called “Shuffle Chess.”

The bishops must be on opposite colors, and the rooks must be on opposite sides of the king to enable castling (which looks similar to castling in chess). The first Chess960 World Championship, held as part of the Mainz Chess Classic in 2001 between grandmasters Peter Leko and Michael Adams, was largely an unofficial event. From then on, there were Fischer Random Championships held in Mainz every year until the tournament ended in 2009.

Since the death of the Mainz Chess Classic, there have been very few who have promoted the variant, but in recent times it seems to be making a comeback. The Icelandic Chess Federation has hosted the European Fischer Random Cup at the Reykjavik Open for the past couple of years.

https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/chess-xl-expectations-2019-chess-9lx-champions-showdown

The Missouri Governor’s Mansion has been under renovation since mid-June, and despite unexpected structural issues, it is set to reopen on schedule at the end of October.

The $3.8 million project includes upgrades to the electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems throughout the mansion. Most notably, the heating and air conditioning systems are being replaced.

Project manager Sherry Kempf said there have been five different systems, and currently they are not integrated. This has caused temperature and humidity problems, which resulted in water damage in several places throughout the building.

Another major project is revamping the piping system. Several of the pipes had rusted and clogged over time, which also resulted in water damage.

https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/missouri-governors-mansion-renovations-be-complete-october

Lamar Johnson has been in prison for 24 years. A St. Louis jury found him guilty of murder in 1995 – and he’s been serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole ever since.

St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner now says prosecutors in her office engaged in serious misconduct. Saying her Conviction Integrity Unit has found new evidence that Johnson is actually innocent, she sought a new trial.

St. Louis Circuit Judge Elizabeth Hogan denied that request. She says Gardner’s motion came “approximately 24 years” past the deadline. Tricia Bushnell, director of the Midwest Innocence Project, isn’t buying it.

Speaking by phone on Thursday’s St. Louis on the Air, she pushed back on the idea that it was too late for justice, or that Johnson had “exhausted” his appeals.

https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/lamar-johnson-s-supporters-hope-reprieve-after-his-24-years-prison

On Aug. 9, Holly Uchtman and her 7-year-old son Zyler headed to their weekly appointment at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. Zyler has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rare, terminal disease that causes muscles to weaken and eventually stop working. For two years, Zyler had been receiving eteplirsen, gene therapy that helped his muscles keep their shape.

But that day, there was a surprise on the other side of their journey. The state had removed Zyler from Medicaid, which pays for his nearly $40,000-a-week treatment. They were turned away, and he missed his appointment.

Zyler was one of the 120,000 people, most of them children, who have been dropped from Missouri’s Medicaid rolls since the beginning of 2018, either because the state removed them or they didn’t re-enroll. State officials say the huge drop is because leadership is finally weeding out ineligible recipients after years of neglecting to double-check eligibility.

In recent months, eligible families across the state say they’ve been arriving at doctors’ appointments to learn their children have been unwittingly dropped from the program and are unable to receive the required medical care.

https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/missouri-trims-its-medicaid-rolls-families-say-theyve-been-kicked-unfairly

The River City Rascals are set to fold after 21 years in St. Charles County, (MO), but the city of O’Fallon isn’t giving up on baseball just yet.

The Rascals are members of the Frontier League, an independent minor league not affiliated with Major League Baseball. The team announced earlier this month it plans to cease operations at the end of the season. O’Fallon is looking for a team to move into the Rascals’ ballpark next season.

“We, at this point, are pretty confident that there will be a team in place for 2020,” said city spokesperson Thomas Drabelle. “You never know for sure. But the way things are proceeding right now, there’s been a ton of interest in the stadium. We’ve been contacted by basically every independent or prospect-type organization in the Midwest.”

https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/river-city-rascals-play-final-regular-season-home-game-o-fallon-seeks-new-team

The River City Rascals are set to fold after 21 years in St. Charles County, but the city of O’Fallon isn’t giving up on baseball just yet.

The Rascals are members of the Frontier League, an independent minor league not affiliated with Major League Baseball. The team announced earlier this month it plans to cease operations at the end of the season. O’Fallon is looking for a team to move into the Rascals’ ballpark next season.

“We, at this point, are pretty confident that there will be a team in place for 2020,” said city spokesperson Thomas Drabelle. “You never know for sure. But the way things are proceeding right now, there’s been a ton of interest in the stadium. We’ve been contacted by basically every independent or prospect-type organization in the Midwest.”

https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/river-city-rascals-play-final-regular-season-home-game-o-fallon-seeks-new-team

More than a dozen children have died from gun violence in St. Louis this year. The spike in incidents was at the heart of a town hall meeting at Harris-Stowe State University on Wednesday night.

The Board of Aldermen black caucus and U.S. Rep. Lacy Clay, D-University City, called for immediate action from the federal level to combat gun violence against children.

“Gun violence is a public health emergency,” Clay said.

About 500 people attended the event, including community members, St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson, members of the St. Louis region’s NAACP chapters, local organizations for mothers, human rights groups, government officials and law enforcement agents.

https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/us-rep-lacy-clay-we-ve-reached-tipping-point-gun-violence

I don't really know how to get more than the link posted here but it is 1). my favorite that I check daily and 2). this particular one says just how well the economy is working for many in this country.


https://www.comicskingdom.com/retail/2019-08-29

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson reiterated Wednesday there will be no special legislative session on gun violence.

Parson called a special session to resolve a car sales tax issue to run concurrently with the state’s annual veto session. It’s set to begin on Sept. 9 and will cost taxpayers an estimated $16,000.

The Missouri Legislative Black Caucus asked the governor to address gun violence in Missouri, specifically in St. Louis and Kansas City. But Parson rejected the idea Tuesday and again Wednesday when he was asked about it at a press conference on government restructuring.

He said he is not convinced any change would happen even if he did add it to the schedule.

https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/gov-parson-again-rejects-call-special-session-gun-violence